Four new polio cases surface in Pakistan

Pakistan has reported four new polio cases, bringing the total number of children affected by the virus to 32 across the country.

The new cases have emerged from Jacobabad, Karachi's Malir district, and Dera Ismail Khan.

In Jacobabad's Thul tehsil, a 32-month-old girl and an 18-month-old boy were diagnosed with polio, while in Karachi's Bin Qasim tehsil of Malir district, a 72-month-old boy tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, in Dera Ismail Khan, a 22-month-old boy was also confirmed to have contracted polio.

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio in Sindh confirmed that the province has now recorded 10 cases this year.

Two of the newly reported cases are from Jacobabad, while one is from Malir district in Karachi. So far this year, Sindh has reported polio cases from various regions, including two each from Hyderabad, Kemari, and Jacobabad, and one case each from East District, Malir, Shikarpur, and Sujawal.

In Karachi alone, four cases have been recorded, with two from Keamari, one from Malir, and one from East District.

The health authorities are intensifying efforts to curb the virus and vaccinate children across affected areas.

Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan. While annual case numbers had seen a sharp decline, a recent surge has reversed this progress.

Despite sustained vaccination efforts by the government, the country continues to grapple with the crippling disease, which primarily affects children under five, particularly those who are malnourished or lack proper immunisation.

Polio is a highly infectious virus that invades the nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death. Although there is no cure, vaccination remains the most effective way to safeguard children from this debilitating illness.

The resurgence of polio marks a major setback for Pakistan's eradication efforts, prompting officials to intensify vaccination drives and heighten public awareness about the critical importance of immunisation.

A mass vaccination campaign is set for October 28, with a focus on reaching mobile and migrant populations.